Statewide Agitation Announced Against Maharashtra's Shaktipeeth Highway Project
Farmers' leaders and activists have declared a major statewide protest movement against the controversial Nagpur-Goa Maharashtra Shaktipeeth highway project. During a crucial online meeting of the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Samiti on Saturday, participants announced plans for district-level agitations across Maharashtra on February 23, coinciding with a significant round table conference in Mumbai timed with the state Budget session.
Political Leadership Unites Against Highway Project
The virtual gathering brought together an impressive coalition of political figures and agricultural representatives. The meeting was chaired by MLC Satej Patil, who serves as the Congress group leader in the legislative council. Notable participants included Kolhapur MP Shahu Chhatrapati, former MP Raju Shetti, Sangli MP Vishal Patil, Dharashiv MLA Kailas Patil, Sangli MLA Vishwajeet Kadam, former MLAs Ruturaj Patil and Rajesh Patil, along with Girish Phonde, coordinator of the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti.
"Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured in the legislative council that Shaktipeeth would not be built without taking people into confidence, but now the CM has changed his position," declared Satej Patil during his address to the assembly.
Escalating Costs and Safety Concerns
Patil highlighted several critical issues with the project, emphasizing that "this project of Rs 86,000 crore has already gone above Rs 1,00,000 crore." He questioned the allocation of such substantial funds to a new highway when Maharashtra faces pressing road safety challenges, noting that "every day, over 100 people are dying in road accidents in Maharashtra, and this amount should be spent on the existing roads to make them pothole-free."
The legislative leader urged farmers to actively oppose land mapping procedures and pass resolutions in their gram sabhas against the project. He confirmed that "a statewide agitation will be launched on Feb 23, and a firm stand against this highway will be taken in the legislature as well."
Environmental and Agricultural Impacts
Former MP Raju Shetty condemned recent incidents in Parbhani and Latur, interpreting spontaneous farmer protests as clear evidence of local opposition to the highway. Shetty challenged what he described as misleading narratives about compensation, stating that "a few people are spreading a false narrative that farmers will get huge compensation for land acquisition, giving examples of Surat-Chennai and Nagpur-Ratnagiri land acquisition."
Shetty warned that "in reality, this is a state highway project implemented through privatisation. Farmers will suffer a lot, as this highway will further worsen flood scenarios in Kolhapur, Sangli, and even in Latur and Solapur districts."
Coordinated Resistance Strategy
Dharashiv MLA Kailas Patil appealed for maintaining consistent opposition, emphasizing the need for "strong opposition from every affected village." Committee coordinator Girish Phonde echoed concerns about recent incidents in Parbhani, stating there was "a need to stage a big protest against the Shaktipeeth, as the govt was imposing pressure on the police to carry out the land mapping inhumanely."
Rajan Kshirsagar, President of the Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha, highlighted the significance of women farmers' spontaneous participation in protests, warning authorities that "they would not be allowed to set foot in the fields without giving notice."
The meeting concluded with a clear action plan for February 23, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between development priorities and agricultural concerns in Maharashtra.
